 I arrived in Ghana on February 11, 2006 and was met at the airport by our local coordinator, Mr. Gabriel Owusu. I checked into the Pekan Hotel for the night and the next day, Sunday February 12, we went to Teacher Mante. The village has no electricity, pipe-born water, nor sanitation facilities. So we had to get everything done during the day.
We met with the Chief of the village and the members of the Village Development Council. |
 A Meeting with the Village Development Council |
| We went over our plans to rid the village of mosquitoes. In the coming days, the village was to be sprayed (fumigated), the swamp breeding mosquitoes was to be drained, insecticide-treated bed nets were to be purchased and anti-malarial drugs to be distributed to the villagers. February 18 was chosen for the date for distribution of the bed nets. |
 The village being sprayed |
We explained to the Village Development Council that Mr. Allen Model has been informed of their request for an orange juice or garri-making factory. Mr. Model has indicated that, while is supportive, he would like to “test” the villagers in terms of how successful they can run a micro-credit finance. – especially by the women. A small capital of about $5,000 will be provided and this will be parceled out as small loans to about 100 women. If they put the loans to good use and repay them, then Mr. Model would consider providing the funds to build them their factory.
Additionally, the factory would be run in a certain particular way. A third of the revenue will be used to cover cost of operations. Another third will be placed in the Village Development Fund to finance to provide such amenities as electricity, clean water, medical clinic, etc. The remaining third will be used to pay back the initial capital outlay. In other words, the initial outlay spent to build the factory will be considered a loan to be paid back. The chief and the Village Development Council agreed to these terms. |
 The swamp that breeds mosquitoes |
On Saturday, Feb 18, Mr. Owusu and I left for Teacher Mante with a group of press reporters. We arrived at Teacher Mante to such a tumultuous welcome. Signboards were all over the place, welcoming us and thanking Mr. Model. The villagers were exceedingly happy that Mr. Model was doing this for them. Never have I come across such joy written on the faces of ordinary Africans. The Ladies Club, the beneficiaries of the small micro-credit finance, put on quite a show. |
 A signboard expressing thanks to Professor Ayittey and Hon. Allen Model. |
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 A procession of traditional council led by Ladies Club |
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 Members of the Ladies Club in a joyous mood |
| In fact, so happy were the villagers that they decided to make Mr. Model a chief but since Allen Model was not present I stood in his stead. |
 Nana Nkosuohene Obenfo Professor Ayittey Mante II |
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 Professor Ayittey as Chief with the Traditional Council |
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 Gathering at the Village Durbar |
| We were seated at a carefully laid-out table. The chief and the village elders were seated next to us. A procession of couriers carried the bed nets and anti-malarial drugs to the ceremony, carefully setting them down in front of the table. |
 Members of the Ladies Club (in Green outfit) dancing |
 Members of the Ladies Club posing with their new Chief |
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 The distribution of bed nets and anti-malarial drugs |
As these pictures show, the villagers were exceedingly happy and grateful to receive the assistance provided to them by Mr. Allen Model.
George B.N. Ayittey, Ph.D.
Washington, DC |
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